rap

UK: /ˈræp/ US: /ræp/ ,(rap)

Inflections of 'rap' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

raps

v 3rd person singular

rapping

v pres p

rapped

v past

rapped

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

rap¹ /ræp/   v., rapped, rap•ping, n. 
v. 

1. to strike, esp. with a quick, sharp, light blow: [~ + object]
   rapped him on the knuckles.
   [no object]
   Somebody rapped on the door.
2. to say or shout sharply:
   [~ (+ out) + object] to rap (out) orders.
3. Slang Terms to criticize severely:
   [~ + object] Even his teammates were quick to rap him for his poor sportsmanship.
4. Slang Terms to talk or discuss, esp. freely and at great length;
   chat:
   [no object] rapping about music and politics.
5. Slang Terms [no object] to talk rhythmically to the beat of rap music.

n. 

6. a quick, smart blow:
   [countable] a rap on the knuckles.
7. the sound produced by such a blow:
   [countable] a rap on the door.
8. Slang Terms blame or punishment:
   [uncountable] not going to take the rap for your mistakes.
9. Slang Terms a criminal charge:
   [countable] a murder rap.
10. Slang Terms report;
    reputation:
    [countable] The rap on her is that she quits too easily.
11. Slang Terms [countable] a talk or conversation;
    chat.
12. Music and Dance [uncountable] a kind of music with an insistent beat and rhymed words that follow the beat.

Idioms

13. Idioms, Slang Terms beat the rap, [Slang.] to avoid punishment, as for a crime.

rap•per, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

rap¹  (rap), v., rapped, rap•ping, n. 
v.t. 

1. to strike, esp. with a quick, smart, or light blow:
   He rapped the door with his cane.
2. to utter sharply or vigorously:
   to rap out a command.
3. (of a spirit summoned by a medium) to communicate (a message) by raps (often fol. by out).
4. Slang Terms to criticize sharply:
   Critics could hardly wait to rap the play.
5. Slang Terms to arrest, detain, or sentence for a crime.
6. Metallurgy to jar (a pattern) loose from a sand mold.

v.i. 

7. to knock smartly or lightly, esp. so as to make a noise:
   to rap on a door.
8. Slang Terms to talk or discuss, esp. freely, openly, or volubly;
   chat.
9. Slang Terms to talk rhythmically to the beat of rap music.

n. 

10. a quick, smart, or light blow:
    a rap on the knuckles with a ruler.
11. the sound produced by such a blow:
    They heard a loud rap at the door.
12. Slang Terms blame or punishment, esp. for a crime.
13. Slang Terms a criminal charge:
    a murder rap.
14. Slang Terms response, reception, or judgment:
    The product has been getting a very bad rap.
15. Slang Terms
    • a talk, conversation, or discussion;
      chat.
    • talk designed to impress, convince, etc.;
      spiel:
      a high-pressure sales rap.
16. Music, Music and Dance See rap music. 
17. Slang Terms beat the rap, to succeed in evading the penalty for a crime;
    be acquitted:
    The defendant calmly insisted that he would beat the rap.
18. Slang Terms take the rap, to take the blame and punishment for a crime committed by another:
    He took the rap for the burglary.

• 1300–50; 1960–65 for def. 8; Middle English rappen (verb, verbal), rap(p)e (noun, nominal); akin to Swedish rappa to beat, drub, German rappeln to rattle; senses "to talk,'' "conversation, talk'' perh. of distinct origin, originally, though the hypothesis that it is a shortening of repartee is questionable

rap²  (rap), n. 

1. the least bit:
   I don't care a rap.
2. Currency a counterfeit halfpenny formerly passed in Ireland.

• origin, originally uncertain 1715–25

rap³  (rap), v.t., rapped or rapt, rap•ping. [Archaic.]

1. to carry off;
   transport.
2. to transport with rapture.
3. to seize for oneself;
   snatch.

• back formation from rapt 1520–30

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

rap / ræp/ verb (raps, rapping, rapped)

1. to strike (a fist, stick, etc) against (something) with a sharp quick blow; knock
2. (intransitive) to make a sharp loud sound, esp by knocking
3. (transitive) to rebuke or criticize sharply
4. (transitive) followed by out: to put (forth) in sharp rapid speech; utter in an abrupt fashion: to rap out orders
5. (intransitive) to talk, esp volubly
6. (intransitive) to perform a rhythmic monologue with a musical backing
7. rap over the knuckles ⇒ to reprimand

noun

1. a sharp quick blow or the sound produced by such a blow
2. a sharp rebuke or criticism
3. voluble talk; chatter
4. a fast, rhythmic monologue over a prerecorded instrumental track
5. (as modifier): rap music
6. beat the rap ⇒ to escape punishment or be acquitted of a crime
7. take the rap ⇒ to suffer the consequences of a mistake, misdeed, or crime, whether guilty or not

Etymology: 14th Century: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Swedish rappa to beat

rap / ræp/ noun

1. (used with a negative) the least amount (esp in the phrase not to care a rap)

Etymology: 18th Century: probably from ropaire counterfeit coin formerly current in Ireland

rap / ræp/ verb , noun (raps, rapping, rapped)

1. 
   a variant spelling of wrap8,